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#CPChatNow was especially fantastic last week! Longtime member, Rachel Folly, led a focus chat on the past year in members’ lives and developments for adults with CP.

For her first question, Rachel asked if members had any CP related goals for the year and how they went. Zach and Linds talked about blogging:

Zach said he has accomplished a goal of increasing his reverse crunches:

Rachel then asked members about how their CP has changed as they have aged and what they are doing in response. Linds mentioned exercising by doing things like Zumba:

Zach and I talked about increased back pain. Zach combats this by strategically placed pillows:

Jen mentioned that she experiences pain, but sometimes feels guilty because it is moderate. Rachel tweeted that everyone’s CP is unique.

The next question revolved around what members saw in the media about adults with CP in the past year and how it impacted them. Members largely answered with the story of an adult with CP being assaulted at a gas station. Additionally stories mentioning Zach and another person with CP completing a marathon arose.

Rachel then asked what members would like to see change regarding CP next year. Members talked about a need for medical professionals to learn how to better manage CP:

Linds tweeted about wanting to continue to educate others that people with CP are first and foremost human, like anyone else.

Rachel’s final question asked what members do to stay upbeat and focused on the long term. Linds stated she will do what she wants despite her health conditions:

Yasmin talked about the power of music and other activities in her life:

This brings us to our extend-the-conversation question. As we move past CP Awareness Month, what are your goals for the upcoming year in regards to CP? Please share your answers in the comments!

Much meaningful conversation occurred Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 during the live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow. I am co-host Zachary Fenell and guess what? Correct! I am in recapping mode.

With the date March 14th, 3-14, the mood proved extra festive.

March 14th aka Pi Day gave participants an additional reason to celebrate the Wednesday. Heather DeYoe shared she celebrated Pi Day by eating wild blueberry pie. Meanwhile the closest I came to pie involved a GIF I tweeted earlier in the day.

Although the dialogue began on a lighthearted note, topics soon turned serious. Shira sought comfort related to a frustrating family situation. This led me to pose a reflective question.

My question asked what you wish or wished your parents did differently. Hailey Hughes expressed a desire for her father to understand some movements happen unconsciously. For example, motions like irregular arm positioning and walking flat-footed.

Hannah mentioned not seeing herself as a fighter because no other option exist. I commended her mindset, voicing an uncomfortable truth. Others might contemplate suicide as an alternative.

“It (suicide) only transfers the pain to your family and friends” Hannah reasoned. We agreed, recognizing the need to discuss suicide. Increased discussion could convince someone to reach out to find help.

Helping to lighten the chatter, I proposed a question designed to spark creative thinking.

Shira and I went back and forth answering my query, “If you were to use an analogy to describe to someone what living with cerebral palsy is like, what analogy would you use?” Responding, Shira likened cerebral palsy to a robot with a rusty central system. Her response triggered me to say a computer who only replies to 0s or 1s but not both binary code elements.

Do you want to add to the conversation with your own analogy? Go ahead! Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “What analogy would you use to describe living with cerebral palsy?” Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.

Our very own Rachel will lead the chat, focusing on the past year in CP. Reflection analyzing the positives and negatives related to the CP community from March 2017 to March 2018. Contact Rachel if you would like to see anything particular addressed Wednesday, March 28th.

Prior to contacting Rachel though, remember to answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question. “What analogy would you use to describe living with cerebral palsy?” Respond in the “Comments” section below. Then countdown the hours to our next Twitter chat. #CPChatNow happens every Wednesday at 8pm ET.

Participants in our weekly cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow discussed many topics Wednesday, February 28th, 2018. I am co-host Zachary Fenell, taking on the challenge to recap the lively discussion. Before recapping the many subjects visited, I wish to emphasize a reminder given during the chat.

Currently we at #CPChatNow remain in shirt sale mode, with a shirt featuring a lime green #CPChatNow logo and a line underneath, also in lime green, reading “Established December 2013.” You can pick up the shirt in either navy, forest green, and/or sapphire. However, the sale ENDS Wednesday, March 7th, 2018 when the clock strikes midnight in the eastern time zone. So order today!

Proceeds from the sale will go to the non-profit foundation Keep On Keeping On (KOKO). KOKO assists those with severe disabilities through helping families fund physical therapy and other medical expenses. Help us help them make a difference by either purchasing a shirt or making a monetary donation.

Truly, the shirt sale concludes at a fitting time. After all, March marks Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. Said topic left our community buzzing Wednesday, February 28th.

Rachelasked what people planned to do for National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, quipping that her leg and hand “have been making me all too aware of CP as of late.” I replied I work to raise CP awareness year round through my blog, memoir Off Balanced, and public speaking. Nonetheless I plan to become extra focused in March.

Meanwhile my co-host Devin shared some skepticism. He wants to see meaningful activity oppose to”mindless awareness with no real impact.” Those comments lead us to this week’s extend-the-conversation question. “How do you feel about Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month?” Answer in the “Comments” section.

The CP Awareness Month dialogue eventually transitioned, based off Rachel’s hand and leg quip.

Participant Heather DeYoe noted her birthday occurs during CP Awareness Month. She also empathized with the hand issues Rachel mentioned. Although Heather also indicated feeling relief from such issues after recent surgery. That left Wum Ginwondering the operation Heather underwent.

Amidst the aforementioned post “My Weird Dream Lately…#1” Linds recalled a dream where she proved free from cerebral palsy. I found the fact Linds didn’t have CP in her dream fascinating and pondered what a dream expert might deem the significance. Offering her non-expert opinion, Linds suggested the fact could relate to not knowing she had something called CP until fourth grade.

Her speculation caused other participants to reflect back on growing up with CP. A direction evolving into chatter centering around math class!

Rachel, Devin, and I went back and forth recalling our differing experiences in math class. Rachel described her math class as “sketchy.” I touted my good performance in the subject, at least until I reached pre-calculus. Devin possessed a relatively opposite experience. Geometry presenting the only math class leaving him to struggle. Rachel added many with CP find difficulty with math.

Perchance the math keeps you hesitant towards purchasing a “#CPChatNow Established December 2013” shirt, I will crunch the numbers for you. Each shirt costs $24 and then another $4.99 in shipping, bringing the total to $28.99. The sale ends Wednesday, March 7th, 2018 at midnight ET, meaning upon this recap’s initial publication you hold less than 30 hours to order. Proceeds will go directly to the non-profit foundation Keep On Keeping On.

With that one final plug done, one task lingers. For you to answer the extend-the-conversation question! Again, this week’s question asks “How do you feel about Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month?”Respond in the “Comments” below.

Last Wednesday was a bustling week in #CPChatNow as always. Members discussed Drunk History portraying the fight for disability rights and a discussion on members’ number one life priorities. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for this week’s recap.

First, we are very excited to announce #CPChatNow’s 2nd t-shirt sale benefiting the Keep On Keeping On Foundation. Get your #CPChatNow Community Established December 2013 shirt now!

Next, Rachel and I talked about Drunk History portraying the fight by the disability community to get the Rehabilitation Act 504 standards codified into law. Past #CPChatNow participant, Ajani “AJ” Murray, was an actor in the video! (Warning: the link contains adult language)

Next, members talked about their number one priority with Zach, myself, and Heather chiming in:

Heather and Zach both tweeted about how the only thing that should matter for a boss is job performance:

February 2018 coincidentally saw Valentine’s Day and the weekly cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow fall on the same day. I am co-host Zachary Fenell, ready to recap the dialogue from February 14th. Participants’ attitudes towards Valentine’s Day emerged early in the chat.

Participants Jen and Rachel‘s responses to my Valentine’s Day greeting showed a disapproval for the holiday. Jen wished a “Happy Single made up holiday.” Meanwhile Rachel pulled a Scrooge, saying “Bah humbug!”

Chatter remained Valentine’s Day related via participants sharing their experiences with online dating. Unfortunately, the tales skewed more negative than positive. Disclosing your disability proving a key topic. However, I will avoid specifics since the recap rules deem “Tweets focus on sensitive life events, such as relationship matters” not recap appropriate.

Eventually discourse moved beyond a love theme. I announced the date for our February 2018 Google Hangout.

Google Hangouts offer the chance for us to talk face to face and share stories harder to tell with Twitter’s character limits. Distributing the Hangout link happens privately to ensure a safe environment. Please contact either my co-hosts Jorge Otezia, Devin Axtman, or myself by Twitter or through the #CPChatNow Facebook fan page to inquire about joining the Hangout.

Mentioning Devin, he added input to a question I asked.

Devin answered my question, “How often do you fall?” He said he falls maybe once a month. I explained the reason I asked, feedback I received on a recent Youtube video discussing falls.

The user commented he never falls because he catches himself. Devin and I both found the ability to catch yourself all the time impressive. Long-time community member Jocelyn also added to the falling talk.

Jocelyn possessed a more precise answer to the question “How often do you fall?” She noted tracking how often she falls and trips. Within the information she logs she includes the situation’s circumstances. Probably very helpful data!

Your turn now. Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “How often do you fall?” Estimate if you do not know the exact amount. Leave your answer by commenting below.

This past week in #CPChatNow was buzzing as always. Members discussed positive and negative things that had happened in the past week, a community pulling together to build an accessible playground, and a tattoo they would get to represent their CP. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

#CPChatNow started with Co-host, Zach Fenell, asking members what positive things had happened for them this week. I shared getting back into the swing of things at the gym and Hannah reported texting friends and getting a new shirt in the mail:

Zach shared the exciting (and positive!) news that he is starting to write a new book on his journey to becoming a marathoner: